Tonnes of boulders and stones were washed up onto roads and property across west Clare early yesterday as Storm Imogen swept across the country.
Roads and hundreds of acres of farmland were left under several feet of water with areas cut off by storms in 2014 suffering the same fate again this year.
Several homes have again been cut off with waters likely to take several days if not longer to recede.
Boulders “the size of cars” were swept up on to the pier in Doolin while the local carpark was also covered in stones washed up from the shoreline.
“Its was bad as it was in 2014 I think anyway. There are massive slabs of rock as big as my mother’s car after being washed up in Doolin,” one local mad said.
Clare County Council had been warning members of the public to avoid exposed coastal locations and roads affected by flooding on Monday morning.
Flooding occurred at a number of locations along the Clare coastline due to a combination of a significant storm surge, strong westerly winds and a High Tide at 5.15am.
Clare County Council confirmed that coastal storms on Sunday night had a more significant impact on North Clare than any other storm this winter.
Senior Engineer Tom Tiernan said it could be a number of days before some of the issues will be resolved.
“The worst affected locations on Monday afternoon were at Kilcredaun and Rinvella near Carrigaholt, Ross Bay, Marine Parade in Kilkee, White Strand (Miltown Malbay), Lahinch promenade and carpark and at Doolin Pier carpark. These areas could see further damage and flooding in the coming days,” Mr Tiernan warned.
Many of these areas were badly affected by previous storms particularly in early 2014.
The council has said: “Council staff are working throughout the West Clare Municipal District to remove storm debris from the affected locations and to carry out necessary repairs to damaged infrastructure.”
Four permanent residences, several holiday homes along with a 100-year-old Irish college at Carrigholt has again been cut off with the main access road to the area all but invisible in the flood waters.
Carrigaholt postmaster Patrick Gavin, whose home was left cut off by flooding in 2014, said not enough has been done in the meantime to resolve the problems.
“It’s always the same in west Clare. You’ll be told something will be done, but nothing ever is,” Mr Gavin said.
“Some work was done on the seawall by the Irish College but the water came in from somewhere else this time. In 2014, I could only get into Carrigaholt to open the post office because a farmer brought me through the flood in his tractor,” he said.
“Two years later, its the same all over again. A neighbour brought me in this morning in his 4×4 but I have to go home early now to avoid the next high tide. Its time now the problems we have down here are prioritised,” Mr Gavin added.
Clare was again battered by storm-force winds and a high tide last night (Monday). Council staff were expected to be out early today (Tuesday) to assess any damage from last nights storm.